Pipe driving device



June 13, 1961 5, BALDWlN 2,988,158

PIPE DRIVING DEVICE Filed NOV. 30, 1956 33 32 I I F/6,5

INVENTOR. JOSEPH SHELDON BALDWIN BY ZULZZiamuM-n S i loam,

CZdQnnA/ H T TORNEYS 2,988,158 PIPE DRIVING DEVICE Joseph Sheldon Baldwin, 8365 Sunset Road, Minneapolis 36, Minn. Filed Nov. 30, 1956, Ser. No. 625,521 3 Claims. (Cl. 175152) This invention relates to a pipe driving device and more specifically relates to a power operated well point driving apparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved pipe driving apparatus of simple and inexpensive construction and operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel power operated, well point driving apparatus which may be readily and easily applied to and removed from pipe sections on the point being driven and thereby facilitate rapid driving of the well point to the desired depth.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an improved reciprocating-type Well point driving apparatus which rapidly impacts the pipe on the Well point in response to application of fluid pressure on the device.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic assembly view of the pipedriving mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a detail elevation view, partly in vertical section of the pipe-driving apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, partly in vertical section, of the pipe-driving apparatus and showing portions thereof in different positions as compared to FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a detail section view taken substantially on a horizontal plane as indicated at 44 in FIG. 2.

One form of the invention is shown in the drawings and is described herein. The invention comprises an apparatus for driving a well point or other pipe structure into the ground. As the well point is driven into the ground, pipe sections are applied and securely coupled thereto. One of such pipe sections 10 is shown in the drawings and has the pipe-driving apparatus applied thereto.

The pipe-driving apparatus includes a driver or driving head indicated in general by numeral 11 and consisting of a rigid tubular housing 12 constructed of a length of large pipe or the like and having a closed upper end including a cap or cover 13. The tubular housing 12 has a depending lower end portion with a plurality of pipeengaging guide bolts 14 threadably secured therein and projecting radially inwardly substantially equal distances so as to maintain the pipe 10 in centered relation with the tubular housing 12. Driver 11 also has a substantial quantity of lead 15 in the upper end portion of housing 12 and affixed therein. It is to be understood that the lead 15 may be poured into the housing 12 in a molten condition so as to be rigidly aflixed thereto. A bearing or guide sleeve 16 extends longitudinally through the upper end portion of tubular housing 12 and through the lead 15 and is aflixed in the cap 13 as by welding. The lower end portion of the lead 15 rests upon the cap 10a of pipe 10 and is adapted to impact the cap 10a for driving the pipe into the ground.

Means are provided for producing a vertical reciprocating movement of the driver 11 and such means include an upright fluid motor indicated in general by numeral 17 and including a hydraulic or fluid cylinder 18 and a ram 19 which includes a piston 20 and a piston rod 21. The lower end of cylinder 18 is fixedly secured to the driver 11 by means of a coupling 18a which is threaded to the lower end of the cylinder 18 and is also threaded nited States Patent on the upper end of bearing or guiding sleeve 16. The upper end of cylinder 18 is threaded to a T-coupling 22 which provides communication from the interior of cylinder 18 to the fluid flow inlet 23 and outlet 24 respectively. Piston rod 21 extends through the lower end of cylinder 18 and through the bearing sleeve 16 and rests upon the cap 10a of pipe 10 and the piston rod 21 is slidable in the bearing sleeve 16 to be slidably related with the driver 11.

Means are provided for continuously supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the cylinder 18. In the form shown, the fluid utilized to operate motor 17 is water and the fluid may be stored in a reservoir 25 which is connected by means of a conduit 26 to a pressure pump 27. Pump 27 is driven by a suitable source of rotary power such as a gasoline engine 28. Pump 27 is connected to the fluid flow inlet 23 by means of a restricted flow passage which consists in a flexible hose 29 and a coupling 30 having a restricted orifice 31 therein. It has been found to be satisfactory to use a pressure hose having an internal diameter of approximately onefourth inch for the hose 29 and it has been found satisfactory for the orifice 31 to have a diameter of approximately one-sixteenth inch. The pump 27 is connected to hose 29 by means of a suitable coupling 32, to which is also connected a pressure gauge 33 and a regulating needle valve 34, the outlet of which is connected by means of a flow conduit 35 to the reservoir 25. By adjusting the needle valve 34 the rate of fluid flow through hose 29 may be carefully regulated.

The fluid flow outlet 24 has a large hydraulic pressure hose 36 connected thereto for discharging the fluid from cylinder 18. A valve 37 is connected to hose 36 and a length of rigid pipe 38 is connected to the outlet of valve 37 and is connected by means of a flexible hose 39 with the reservoir 25 for discharging fluid from the cylinder back to the reservoir. The fluid discharge has a substantially greater flow capacity than the fluid inlet. It has been found satisfactory that the hoses 36 and 39 and pipe 38 have internal diameters of approximately one and onequarter inches. It is to be specifically understood that the indicated dimensions of the hoses and pipes of the fluid inlet and outlet are merely exemplary and are not limiting to the invention with the exception that the flow outlot has very substantially greater capacity than the flow inlet.

Means are provided for mounting the valve 37 in a stationary position relative to the pipe 10. In the form shown, the valve discharge pipe 38 is secured by bracket 40 to pipe 10. The bracket 40 is readily attachable to and detachable from pipe 10 to facilitate rapid application of the pipe driving apparatus to a new length of pipe, as the pipe 10 is driven into the ground and in the form shown, bracket 40 has a pair of pipe-clamping jaws 4-1 and 42 which are secured together by bolts 43 at the opposite sides of the pipe. The jaw 42 has threaded apertures therein for threadably receiving the shank of bolts 43.

Means are provided for preventing any rotary movement of the driving mechanism on the pipe 10 and in the spaced guide members 44 adjacent one side of the tubular form shown, such means include a pair of upright and housing 12 and secured at their lower ends to a cross bar 45 which is aflixed to a web 46 on jaw 41. One of the guide bolts 14 extends between the upright guide elements 44 and has a bearing 47' thereon to slide between the guides 44.

Means are provided for operating the valve 37 in response to vertical movement of the driver 11. In the form shown, the fluid flow shutoff valve 37 has an operating element or lever 48 which is swingable between the closed position shown in FIG. 2 and the open position shown in FIG. 3. The valve 37 is provided with means for limiting the movement of operating element 48 and in the form shown such means include a rigid frame member 49 at one side of the valve and bent back upon itself for engaging and restricting movement of the outer end of operating element 48. A pair of vertically spaced engaging elements Stl and 51 are affixed in vertical alignment with the inner end of valve operating member 48 and on the upper and lower sides thereof respectively by means of angle brackets 52. Engaging elements 50 and 51 are constructed of resiliently yieldable but stifl mate rial and in the form shown these engaging elements are constructed of leaf spring. A pair of stationary abutments 53 and 54 are disposed behind the engaging elements 5t) and 51 to limit vertical yielding thereof as the engaging elements bear against the operating element 48 for moving the same.

In operation, water under substantial pressure is supplied through the flow inlet and the orifice 31 substantially restricts the flow thereof. The driver will initially be in the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the bottom of the lead 15 rests upon the pipe It). In this position, the valve 37 is closed. Pressure will build up in the upper end of cylinder 18 and the pressure will produce relative movement of the piston 29 and cylinder lit-5. Because the lower end of the piston rod 21 rests upon the top of pipe 10, rod 21 and piston 20 remain stationary and piston 1.8 is driven upwardly to raise the driver 11 substantially to the position shown in FIG. 3. The upward movement of the cylinder 18 and driver 11 is quite rapid and the yieldable engaging element 51 will impact the operating element 48 of valve 37 as the driver 11 approaches the top of its stroke. The initial impact between engaging element 51 and operating element 48 causes yielding of the engaging element 51 and then the engaging element 51 will swing the operating element 48 with a snap action to the full line position shown in FIG. 3 so as to operate the valve with a rapid action. When valve 37 has been operated so as to be opened, the fluid in the cylinder 18 is rapidly discharged. Fluid continues to flow inwardly through the orifice 21 and inlet 23 but because the flow capacity of the outlet 24 and hose 36 is substantially greater than the capacity of the flow inlet, substantially the entire pressure with cylinder 18 is relieved and the weight of the driver 11 causes rapid downward move ment of the driver and of cylinder 18. The fluid inflow as well as the fluid from the cylinder 18 is all discharged through the fluid outlet and valve 37. As the driver it approaches the lower end of its stroke, the lead 15 impacts the pipe 10, to drive the pipe into the ground. Of course, as pipe moves downwardly into the ground the bracket 40 and valve 37 move downwardly therewith.

As the driver 11 approaches the end of its downward stroke, the engaging element 50 engages the inner end of the operating element 48 and the engaging element 50 yields to allow the driver 11 to impact the pipe in with maximum force before the valve 37 is operated which causes pressure to build in the cylinder 18. After the driver 11 has impacted the pipe 14 the spring 50 urges the operating element 43 downwardly with a snap action so as to quickly operate valve 37 and thereby prevent any further flow through the discharge and cause pressure to build up in the cylinder 18 again. As the fluid flows into the cylinder the operating cycle is repeated.

It has been found that with an operating pressure of approximately one hundred twenty psi. at the gauge 33 the pipe driving apparatus will cause the driver 11 to drop at a rate of approximately one hundred ten times per minute.

It should be understood that after the pipe Iii has been driven into the ground, the pipe driving apparatus will be removed from this particular section of pipe, and a new section of pipe is coupled on the section 10 and the driving apparatus Will be applied thereto. The pipe driving apparatus is readily removed from pipe 10 by loosening 4 bolts 43 and by adjusting the guide bolts 14 to facilitate slipping of the driver 11 off pipe 16'. The drive apparatus may be readily applied to a new pipe section to continue driving the pipe or well point into the ground.

The number of strokes per minute of the driver may be adjusted by operating the needle valve 34 which causes some of the fluid from pump 27 to be bypassed through valve 34 and conduit 35 back to the reservoir. By slightly opening valve 34, the rate of operation of driver 11 may be slowed.

It will be seen that I have provided a new and improved pipe-driving apparatus having a minimum of controls which may be operated by the vertically reciprocating driver to control the flow of fluid into the driveroperating fluid motorv It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for driving a pipe into the ground, comprising a vertically reciprocal driver adapted to be mounted on a pipe and having depending guide means adapted to engage a pipe for guiding the driver in vertical movement, an upright fluid motor including a fluid cylinder mounted on said driver, a piston slidably disposed within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending slidably through said driver and adapted to engage the top of a pipe, a source of fluid pressure for operating said motor and a continuously open restricted flow passage interconnecting the source with said cylinder and continuously supplying such fluid to the cylinder, a flow discharge connected with said cylinder and being in communication with said restricted flow passage, said flow discharge having a substantially greater flow capacity than said restricted flow passage, an instantaneously operable shut-off valve in said flow discharge, and spaced means connected with said driver for engaging and operating said valve to on and off positions to produce reciprocation of said cylinder and driver for driving the pipe into the ground.

2. Apparatus for driving a pipe into the ground comprising a vertically reciprocable driver adapted to be mounted on a pipe and having depending guide means adapted to engage a pipe for guiding the driver in vertical movement, an upright fluid motor including a fluid cylinder mounted on said driver, a piston slidably disposed within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending slidably through said driver and adapted to engage the top of a pipe, fluid flow means connected with said cylinder for supplying and discharging fluid therein and including an outlet having a fluid shut-off valve adapted to be fixed with respect to an associated pipe, said fluid flow means also including a continuous open inlet of substantially less flow capacity than said outlet, said valve including an operating element adapted to be mounted adjacent said driver and being vertically movable to upper and lower positions for respectively opening and closing the valve and thereby producing vertical reciprocation of said cylinder and driver, and a pair of vertically spaced and resiliently yieldable engaging elements on the driver and disposed above and below the operating element for impacting the same, said engaging elements yielding when impacting the operating element and producing an instantaneous delay in movement of the operating element to allow the driver to complete the respective upward and downward strokes thereof.

3. Apparatus for driving a pipe into the ground comprising a vertically reciprocable driver adapted to be mounted on a pipe and having a depending guide means adapted to engage a pipe for guiding the driver in vertical movement, an upright fluid motor including a fluid cylinder mounted on said driver, a piston slidably disposed within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending slidably through said driver and adapted to engage the top of a pipe, said motor being arranged to produce upward movement of the driver and cylinder upon application of fluid pressure within the cylinder, a source of fluid pressure for operating the motor, a continuously open restricted flow inlet interconnecting said source with the cylinder and continuously supplying fluid to the cylinder, regulating means connected with the source for controlling the rate of fluid-flow to the restriction flow inlet, a flow discharge connected with the motor and having substantially greater flow capacity than the restricted flow inlet, a motor-operating fluid shutofi valve in the flow discharge and having a movable operating element adapted to be mounted for movement on a pipe and positioned adjacent the driver, and vertically spaced engaging elements on the driver and in vertical alignment with the operating element for engaging and operating said element as the driver is reciprocated, whereby to produce continuous reciprocation of the cylinder and driver at a rate in accordance with the rate of fluid flow in the flow inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 59,476 Studer Nov. 6, 1866 284,282 Cram Sept. 4, 1883 2,647,373 Bell Aug. 4, 1953 2,668,517 Craft Feb. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 284 Great Britain 1877 23,229 Germany 1883 435,183 Great Britain 1935 447,920 Great Britain 1936 521,624 Belgium 1953 

